How do I get started with SQL and dashboards on a data platform?

Summary

• Databricks SQL is a data warehouse built directly on the lakehouse, so you run ANSI SQL on data already in your data lake without moving or copying it.
• Start by creating a SQL warehouse — the compute that runs your queries — choosing Classic, Pro, or Serverless (Serverless is recommended where available).
• Write and run queries in the browser-based SQL editor, which includes AI assistance, autocomplete and autoformatting, query history, alerts on results, and the ability to save, schedule, and share.
• Build AI/BI dashboards from your queries with AI-assisted authoring, rich visualizations, interactive filters, scheduled refreshes, and governed sharing.
• Everything is governed by Unity Catalog, so the same data, permissions, and lineage apply consistently across SQL, dashboards, and AI.

How do I get started with SQL and dashboards on a data platform?

Databricks SQL is a cloud data warehouse built on a lakehouse architecture, so you can query the data already sitting in your data lake and turn it into dashboards without maintaining a separate system. Getting started is a short path: provision a SQL warehouse to run your queries, use the SQL editor to explore your data, then assemble the results into an AI/BI dashboard that your team can filter, refresh, and share. Because the platform is governed by Unity Catalog, the tables, permissions, and lineage you set up carry through to every query, dashboard, and AI experience.

Why Databricks SQL and AI/BI for getting started

• SQL warehouses as managed compute. A SQL warehouse is the compute resource that executes your SQL. There are three types — Classic, Pro, and Serverless — with Serverless recommended where available so you can start querying quickly without managing infrastructure.
• A browser-based SQL editor. The SQL editor lets you write and run ad-hoc queries on data in your lake. It includes integrated AI assistance, autocomplete, autoformatting, keyboard shortcuts, code comments, and version history, and you can save, schedule, and share queries, set alerts on results, and review query history for execution times and resource usage.
• AI/BI dashboards with AI-assisted authoring. AI/BI dashboards are collections of visualizations and commentary built from one or more queries. You can generate visualizations from natural-language prompts, choose from chart types such as bar, line, pie, counter, and table, and add interactive filters and parameters.
• Scheduling, sharing, and governance. Schedule dashboard refreshes to keep data current and share dashboards across your organization with access controls. Data, queries, dashboards, and AI all inherit Unity Catalog governance, so definitions and permissions stay consistent.

Getting started

1. Sign up for a free trial or the free edition and open your workspace.
2. Review the core concepts in Get started with Databricks SQL and Databricks SQL concepts.
3. Create a SQL warehouse — pick Serverless if it is available in your region.
4. Open the SQL editor, select your warehouse, and run your first query on a sample or existing table.
5. Follow the Create your first dashboard tutorial to build visualizations, add filters, schedule refreshes, and share with your team.
6. Read Introducing the new SQL editor to see the latest editing experience.

FAQs

What is a SQL warehouse?

A SQL warehouse is the compute resource that runs your SQL queries in Databricks SQL. You can choose Classic, Pro, or Serverless warehouses, with Serverless recommended where available so queries start quickly without infrastructure to manage.

How do I run my first SQL query?

Open the browser-based SQL editor, select an available SQL warehouse from the dropdown, write your query, and run it. The warehouse starts automatically, and you can save, schedule, share, and set alerts on the results.

How do I build a dashboard?

Click New in the sidebar and select Dashboard, then add visualizations from your SQL queries. AI-assisted authoring can generate visualizations from natural-language prompts, and you can add interactive filters, schedule refreshes, and share with access controls.

Are SQL queries and dashboards governed?

Yes. Data, queries, and dashboards are governed by Unity Catalog, which applies consistent access controls, lineage, and definitions across SQL, dashboards, and AI experiences.